On Thursday, July 24, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) will officially designate the City of Alexandria as one of only six 2008 Ambassador Cities nationwide. Ambassador Cities are selected for their innovative, successful and effective programs that promote homeownership and affordable housing opportunities in the community. The U.S. Conference of Mayors and NAR will recognize the City of Alexandria for its successful partnership with The Northern Virginia Association of Realtors® (NVAR) to promote affordable homeownership opportunities to low- and moderate-income residents.

A ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. in Vola Lawson Lobby, Alexandria City Hall, 301 King St. At the event, Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille, NVAR Chairman of the Board Jane A. Quill, NVAR CEO Christine M. Todd, U.S. Conference of Mayors representative Dave Gatton, and NAR representative Kit Hale will all make remarks about Alexandria’s designation as an Ambassador City.

The City of Alexandria and NVAR have addressed affordable housing issues through outreach and education to low- to moderate-income residents who rent rather than own their homes. They have jointly organized homebuyer seminars for both residents and employees from the City of Alexandria and Alexandria City Public Schools and offered several seminars to educate homeowners about foreclosure prevention. Foreclosure prevention seminars that took place in October, February and May were well received, and several more are planned for later this year.

“Helping lower income residents and workers to purchase and maintain their first home in the City demonstrates that Alexandria is truly a caring community,” said Mayor Euille. “For individuals, achieving homeownership is an important step in attaining real economic self-sufficiency. These important initiatives also serve to preserve our diversity and stabilize our community against the current wave of foreclosures.”

The U.S. Conference of Mayors and NAR, through its Council on the New American City, launched the Ambassador for Cities program in 2003. NVAR was awarded a $5,000 grant from NAR to help facilitate these programs. For more information, contact the City’s Office of Housing at 703.746.4990, or TDD 703.838.5056 .